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A major row has broken out on the Barbican Estate over Nicolas Hare Architects’ plans for a school expansion, which residents claim will be ‘a major threat to the architectural heritage’ of the listed complex

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The latest AJ features three Manchester projects: SimpsonHaugh Architects’ No 1 Spinningfields office building; Roof Gardens low-rise, high-density housing by Ollier Smurthwaite; and BDP’s extension and refurbishment of the Alliance Manchester Business School. And we investigate whether Manchester City Region can meet its ambitious carbon target while continuing to grow upwards and outwards. PLUS The architects who ...

Design for some real issues, not fantasy

I am thoroughly astonished at some of the work being passed through schools of architecture. At the rca show I was absolutely horrified at the designs in the architect/interior Cyber show. Full respect to the hard work and research, but I'm not really surprised that it was all hidden away behind giant screens blocking off the projects.

Real people may not exist in Cyber society; only what real people want to be or make impressions with. The only society that would exist is one that conflicts and contradicts, competing as companies compete now - as separate entities, to no particular end, not even for a sustainable financial economy. Businesses, not society or human rights, may exist.

What about the maintenance and disposal of the massive amount of equipment and updating that would be necessary? Environmental disasters would become a necessary evil to keep up with 'progress'. How vulnerable are machines to manipulation, 'bugs', prying eyes and power cuts? What would happen if a conflict of political interests is made with basic human needs, instincts and health?

Many of those who spend necessary time in the home are elderly, mentally ill, occupied with domestic duties, alcoholics, wealthy socialites, unemployed, severely physically ill and/ordisabled . . . How about being ground-breaking and innovative in the design of Cyber architecture, not by indulging in fantasy but by addressing these issues to use technology in an exciting dynamic way for life in the new millennium?

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